DVD Review – Confessions of a Superhero

01.28.08 | by SeancloseAuthor: SeanName: Site:http://www.seandwyer.netAbout: Webmaster and editor of Film Junk, video game programmer by trade. Sean is obsessively blogging when he’s not blogging about obsessively blogging. He is also a big fan of reality in general.

Let me start by saying that I’ve always been fascinated and inspired by the folks who go to comic book and sci-fi conventions dressed up as their favourite characters. Sometimes the costumes are amazingly detailed and realistic, while other times they are a little rough around the edges, but there is always a passion behind it all. It’s a passion that the average person can’t understand, and sometimes we feel the urge to laugh at just how enthusiastic these people can be, but it’s all in good fun. I don’t think there’s any good reason why Halloween should only come once a year.

But now imagine for a minute, that dressing up as your favourite character could become a full-time job (albeit, not the most financially rewarding one). Would that make the act of dressing up as a superhero any more respectable and worthwhile, or would it just make it depressing and possibly a little more disturbing?

There is indeed a growing group of people who eek out a living by posing as various comic book and cartoon characters on the streets of Hollywood. They are paid only through tips from tourists, and they generally congregate outside Mann’s Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. In recent years, there has been a growing concern as to whether or not they have any right to do what they do. Are they hassling tourists or are they providing a necessary service? Can they actually be considered street performers or are the costumes earning the money for them? Many of them are simply struggling actors, trying to pay the rent in between auditions. On the other hand, many of them love doing it, and some of them have been doing it for so long, that they have become semi-famous for it.

Confessions of a Superhero is a documentary that examines the lives of four of the most well-known costumed panhandlers. First up, we have a Christopher Reeves lookalike named Christopher “Superman” Dennis. He is the primary focus of this documentary, and probably the most respected of the bunch, mainly because he actually looks so much like Reeves. He claims to be the son of actress Sandy Dennis, but there is never any proof of this. Then we have Joseph McQueen, a black man who plays Hulk, and who spent a few years in Hollywood homeless. Jennifer Gerht (Wonder Woman) comes from a small town in Tennessee, and married a man she met within two weeks of arriving in Tinseltown. Last but not least is Maxwell Allen (Batman), an actor who looks a bit like George Clooney, something that has actually held him back from getting roles.

Although the movie certainly has its share of playful and funny moments with these semi-delusional people (especially the clips from the low budget movies they have actually starred in), director Matt Ogens is careful to never cross the line into mockery. He takes his subjects seriously and attempts to understand where they came from and what drives them to do what they do. There is also a surprisingly dark side to each of the characters, including Dennis’ admission of dabbling with crystal meth, and Allen’s anger management issues and a supposed background as a Mafia hitman.

There are a few small underlying storylines that add some dynamicism to the movie, including Dennis’ trip to the annual Superman celebration in Metropolis, Illinois, and Gerht’s dissolving relationship with her husband, but mostly the movie is just a mix of interviews and footage of them out on the streets. The movie is shot with varying levels of quality. At times it is grainy handheld footage with distorted sound, while other times there are well-lit and beautifully filmed interviews mixed with gorgeous still photographs of each of the characters.

A handful of bigger issues are explored including the legality of their business and the arrest of some of the street performers (which inadvertently lead to more tips for some of the impersonators). It also provides a somewhat sad and melancholy look at the American dream that brings so many people to Hollywood every year. In the end, however, it really is just a portrait of four intriguing individuals who have stumbled onto a strange and unique career path, and how they are trying to come to terms with it.

Despite the silly image of these second rate superheroes, Confessions of a Superhero is not as hilarious as you might expect it to be. This isn’t a bad thing, though, since it actually goes a bit deeper than that. Not only does it give an appreciation for all the unfortunate souls struggling to make it in Hollywood, it also gives some inspiration in the sense that there is always hope for just about anyone to find happiness. If you’re a fan of off-beat documentaries, this one definitely does not disappoint. — Sean

20 Comments

Nice review. Yeah, I loved it. Saw it the other night finally. I found myself feeling very sad for them at times, but then also very happy that each seems to have found some satisfaction with their lives. To each his/her own.

Thanks for the recommendation. I agree that it was beautifully shot and the four “superheroes” were a little weird, but not so weird that they were cartoons. I am a sucker for character study-style docs like this. For those with Netflix, this one is available for online viewing.

I saw this review and did a double take as I recognized some of these folks from “The Reinactors,” a movie by Dave Markey about the same Hollywood Blvd. folks. But that isn’t a documentary.

Now I want to see this, too. Thanks for the tip!

On 02.14.08 Jessie C said:

I’ve never seen such a contrast in two films on the same subject. Sorry, but “Reinactors” is clearly the winner. “Confessions” is pretentious and does not represent these people or environment accurately.

The Reinactors is a fun little film, but it has no depth and is very superficial. “Confessions” seems like it was made by filmmakers and “The Reinactors” feels like it was made by your local, college news station.

On 03.22.08 Carlos said:

Confessions is stylized, empty, dull and cold. By taking the characters off the boulevard and placing them in a slick tv commercial like set, the director misses the environment completely. Reinactors has an energy, a heartbeat, and a soul. It is a more accurate portrait of Hollywood Boulevard and the characters, and says volumes more about these people and their dark lives.

Loved this movie. A great character study. I agree, it didn’t reflect the environment in which they live, but I don’t think that was the intent. The intent was to delve into the characters, not their “job.”

I’m amused by the description of anything Dave Markey does as “local college news station” because I think nothing could be further from the truth. I wish I’d had the opportunity to see The Reinactors already but I guess I’ll have to wait until the Montreal film festival in October.

How did you get to see it, Carlos?

I’ve got a review of it and an interview with Dave Markey in the latest issue of Popshifter if you’d like to read them.

The reviews and success of Confessions of a Superhero speak for themselves. Period. I won’t waste time responding to some of the negative comments. Probably “friends” with the filmmakers of the other film on some of the same characters, which by the way, started shooting a year after Confessions began.

The movie draws a destructive light on those people’s motivation, who want to go to hollywood and make it.

What I am still fascinated about though is the fact that they could pay their rent by doing this.

This issue comes up in every city – can I make enough money to pay my rent and buy food?

Their lifes depend on the money tourists give them by the tourists own choice. The actors claim they would earn close to 1000 Dollars on a good day but that seems unrealistic to me.

But I prefer Confessions of a Superhero to any episode of “The girls of playboy mansion”.

On 05.29.08 Juey Gankman said:

Confessions is the most boring, unfunny, uninteresting 1 1/2 I’ve ever lost watching a documentary. I love how the director is so sad he has do defend himself on a blog, what a conceded wanker. Funny too cause Superman is selling copies on H’wood blvd. for way cheaper so if you want to waste 1 1/2 of your life buy a copy from him.

On 06.11.08 Canavino said:

“Confussions Of A Stupidhero” was done with deception and lies! It was edited in some parts, two sentences edited together, to make the actors sound like they said something completely different, then what was really said.
I hear Matt Ogens is also trying to “steal” the lives of the Actors in the film. Is that leagal?!
I have seen both films, both films are very good, but one was done with Lies, Deceit, and Arrogance.
Shame….Matt Ogen gives a bad name to film makers!

On 06.18.08 Maxwell "Batman" Allen said:

This pethetic display of the lives of the Characters, WAS done with Lies and Deception. Canavino is right!
Matt Ogden IS trying to steal the lives of the Characters, so they can never do anything ever again as Actors, as their Character, or even as themselves. He has Lied to ALL of Us from the beginning. He DID edit things very badly to make Us look like we said something completely different.
At no time…was I EVER a hitman for the mafia. At no time…did I ever work for the Mafia.
At no time…did I do half the stuff that admits on film. He edited that way on purpose as he did with ALL of Us.
Matt Ogden is a Liar, A Thief, A Backstabbing, Two Faced, Sneaky, Arrogant, Misguided, steaming pile of Bat Guano, who is a pethetic excuse for a human being! PERIOD!
BOYCOTT THIS MOVIE!!!! IT IS A JOKE TO EVERYONE!!!

On 04.30.09 Daniel said:

well, batman, I sure hope that you’re not as insane as the maker of the film depicted you as being.

On 08.21.09 Connie said:

The people who dress as characters on Hollywood Blvd are all very strange people. Many of them have some very misguided thoughts that they will be discovered and become movie stars.It’s pretty much a freak show. that alone shows you how out of touch with reality these people are. The Freddy Krueger guy who goes by the name of Gerard is a very misguided little man, as is the guy who does Superman. Both Confessions of a superhero and Reinactors are nothing more than documentaries about freaky people, who need mental help. Regardless of their excuses of why they are humiliating themselves, they are nothing more than panhandlers and so far lost in their quest for attention to find a real job. Truly bottom-feeders of society.The saddest reality of this little gang of weirdos is that they have no idea how far gone from reality that they are. They all take themselves way too serious, and need mental help.

On 01.31.10 BatMax said:

Wow!
It’s people like Connie, that made “Confussions of a Stupidhero”!
Thank You so much Connie for your wonderful comments.
The Documentary of “Confussions” made us, purposely, look like psycos and of course edited it badly to make us look like we said things COMPLETELY different.
But, it is two-faced, backstabbing people such as Connie, to start the bad rumors, talk bad about someone, or just plain trash someone, to make themselves look & feel better.

If getting mad at people who are lying, thieving, two-faced, backstabbing, sneaky, losers, who claim to be your friend or say they care…If that makes me a psyco or shows that I need mental help. Then I’m gulity!
Does anyone believe in Righteousness, Respect, Kindness, Caring for your fellowman, “And the greatest of these is Love”
Does anyone believe in these things anymore?
Somehow…I just can’t find them.

On 04.19.10 Laura said:

I just watched this movie last night with my boyfriend, and I thought that it WAS touching. It was interesting to see how four different people came to get into that profession.

I am quite appalled at the comments that are on this page. I was not there when this film was shot, and I don’t know any of the people involved, so of course the truth on how everyone was treated is going to be a forever argument between the director and “Batman.”

But I must say this to you, “Batman”, you attacking “Connie”‘s opinion really does show how deep your anger is. I don’t agree with what she said–I have lots of friends that are struggling actors/directors/etc, and I sympathize with how difficult everything got when you stumbled into the profession of being a street entertainer/struggling actor. But, I don’t think her comment warranted an angrier one from you. Some people just don’t understand why people do what they do, so you kind of have to let that go. Sure, it’s hurtful, but arguing against everything, especially in the manner you chose, makes you sound vindictive.

I’m interested to see where everyone’s lives ended up. I see that Joseph McQueen (Who was my favorite, by the way!) is going to be in an upcoming movie called “Zombie Ed”. But I don’t see anything on any of the other characters. Does anyone know how these four characters are doing?

On 05.13.11 AC said:

Christopher Superman Dennis along with several others actors were arrested June 2010 by LAPD for “loitering”. This was a sweep done by police to remove the actors from Hollywood Blvd. The police stated several fights were breaking out between the actors and some of them were becoming too demanding towards tourists for tips. Some of them yelled at the tourists or did offensive gestures for not tipping. It’s my understanding they actors were back allowed on Hollywood Blvd after a court ruling in their favor.

On 10.10.11 bruce wayne said:

Very good film. I thought I wouldn’t like this movie. I watched it on hulu. Its been several years since I have seen it. I am still impressed. I liked it very much. There is so much truth in this movie sometimes it almost hurts to watch it, but there is also great beauty revealed as we watch the broken heal.

This film is well shot, and the pacing is great. Technically it is a fine film, but the story, that is where it this film shines. In a world of ordinary men, some walk among us wearing their secrets on the outside. The superhero’s tale forks at every turn, always darts out of your grasp, until you stop trying to grab hold of the ideas being brought forth, and just watch the lives unfold on the screen before you.

So good it could be fiction, but the impact is so strong because it is the truth. Isn’t there a little superman inside us all?